John Bockris

Bernhardt Patrick John O’Mara Bockris (5 January 1923 – 7 July 2013) was a professor in the physical sciences, chiefly electrochemistry. Among wide ranging contributions to physical chemistry, Bockris is best known for his creation of physical electrochemistry, taking an old and decayed subject into modern times (1950 to 1970); for the introduction of a hydrogen economy (1971 to present); and for the first claimed nuclear reactions to be carried out in aqueous solutions (1989 to 1997).

Two of the areas (out of 23) which he chose to study have provoked controversy, namely cold fusion and transmutation. His interests in these areas brought harsh criticism. Dr. Bockris was exonerated of fraud or scientific misconduct by his university after three investigations in 1995.

Bockris authored and/or co-authored more than 712 papers and more than 24 books. His areas of interest included physical electrochemistry, environmental chemistry, photoelectrochemistry, bioelectrochemistry, quantum electrochemistry, and founding contributions to condensed matter nuclear reactions. He had undergraduate students come from 14 countries to do research with him. Between 1961 and 1969 he ranked between 8th and 11th of the frequency of quotations among U.S. physical chemists.

John Bockris was born 5 January 1923, in Johannesburg, South Africa. His father was Alfred Bockris, and his mother Emmeline Mary MacNally.

From 1929 until 1930 he attended a Catholic convent school in Brighton, England.

For his elementary education he attended Kendrick House, Brighton, from 1930 to 1934.

From 1934 to 1937, he attended Withdean Hall, a preparatory school in Brighton, where a variety of subjects, including French and Latin, were taught. Bockris was a member of the soccer team. Students underperforming in mathematics were beaten by the headmaster, Mr. Hamilton, while his wife would sometimes compel pupils to go outside for runs at night when the weather was bad.

After leaving Withdean Hall, he attended Xaverian College, Brighton, from 1937 to 1940. This was a Catholic secondary school. English, French, Latin, Algebra and Geometry to Pythagoras’ Theorem were taught. When called on by the teacher, boys had to stand up and translate Latin into English without hesitation. One teacher of note was Brother Alloyisch Hollingshead, who made pupils aware that what they were supposed to do in life was to serve the community. At age 14 to 16, Bockris spent two hours per day lying on his back as he suffered from scoliosis. Forbidden to play football, he served as referee.

...
Wikipedia